The Reason The Angels Were Singin’ (Christmas Message)
Luke 2.10-14
December 20, 2015 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
A The Pax Romana (Roman Peace) came in to effect 27 B.C. and lasted for nearly 200 (180 AD) years.
1 It’s been said that this period was the longest period of relative warfare-free time in history.
a A time of prosperity, peace, low crime, and people were safe under the cover of Rome’s government.
b It was during the time of Pax Romana that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
2 The absence of war doesn’t guarantee the presence of peace.
a The government/President/Prime Minister/King may give peace from a war on land & sea, but all of these are incapable of giving the kind of peace that our souls desire.
b The kings of this world can make treaties, call a truce . . . but not real peace to our hearts.
aa United Nations, U.S. Congress, Senate, White House can not bring peace to you.
bb Bring armies home, stop battles but they can’t stop the battles that rage in our hearts.
B I think we live in a time when the idea of Faux Pax (False Peace) is sought.
1 Governments, Climate Change Conferences, Science, Technology, Financial Stability . . . these are the keys to peace. (False)
a If we can all just be tolerant of others, not offend anyone, coexist, hold hands & sing Kumbaya . . . I’d like to buy the world a coke and live in harmony . . .that would be peace! (False)
b I’ve got Peace because I’m a good person, give to charity, vote a certain way, go to church, moral . . . that’s peace, right? Wrong.
b 2,015 Years ago, Angels came singing to shepherds who were tending sheep between Jerusalem & Bethlehem and said, “I bring you good new of a great joy which shall be for all the people.;” Luke 2.10 NASB
aa Good news that will make you happy, happy, happy!
bb News that will make you get on your good foot!
2 The good news that “ . . .TODAY, in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior (deliverer), Who is Christ (Messiah) the Lord (King.)” (Luke 2.11)
a v.12, tells exactly what the baby will be wearing (swaddling cloths): where the baby will be (Bethlehem, in a manger.)
b The details were so the shepherd wouldn’t make the mistake of going to the wrong baby thinking they found the right on.
aa People find religion but it doesn’t mean they found Jesus.
bb People find a church but it doesn’t mean they found Jesus.
cc People get a little excited over a little exposure to the Kingdom doesn’t mean they found Jesus.
C v.13, The angels that appeared to the shepherds seemed a bit happy that Jesus, the Son of God/second person in the Trinity/agent of creation, was being born on that night 2015 years ago.
1 There a few things that you need to remember here . . .
a The angels had known Jesus ever since the nanosecond they were created.
aa They knew Him as God before He was ever the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths.
bb They had praised Him in the beginning when He was creating the universe (cf. Job 38.7) and now they are praising Him at the beginning of the New Covenant.
b The angels remembered the good ol’days when God’s Presence dwelt in The Land inside the Tabernacle, guarded His Glory in the Holy of Holies (Ezek. 8.4; 9.3; 10.4, 18; 11.22-23)
Ezekiel 8:4 (NASB) 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain.
Ezekiel 9:3 (NASB) 3 Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case.
Ezekiel 10:4,18-19(NASB) 4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD....18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.19 When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD'S house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.
aa They also remembered when God removed His presence from the people because of their sin (1 Samuel 4:21 (NASB) 21 And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
bb The Presence had been departed around 578 B.C. and now for the first time nearly 600 years the glory was returning in the person of His Son: John 1:14 (NASB) 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
c The most wonderful part of that first Christmas (and every Christmas since) has never been about presents, but rather His Presence.
aa The prophecy of Malachi 3:1 “ . . .And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.
bb The Lord that had been promised to come, that the people were seeking has finally arrived, the Glory was back.
cc The baby Jesus in the lowly manger was a picture of the glory in the Holy of Holies at the Temple!
d They knew Adam’s sin had cursed humankind and that they were in rebellion against God.
aa The birth of Jesus was THE EVENT of God providing THE WAY for the lifting of the curse, stop rebellion and provide reconciliation between sinful man and The Holy God of Creation.
bb Luke 15:10 (NASB) "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
cc The angels love human kind (Psalm 91:11 (NASB) 11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.) and were stoked when The Way for man to come back into fellowship with like Adam and God were before the fall.
2 They were singing because “The Savior, who is Messiah, the Lord” had finally arrived! They just got good news!
a Here was the deliverer, anointed King, master!
aa That was good news for everybody that created great joy!
bb To the Jews first since “salvation is from the Jews” (John 4.22), but the promise of salvation is not for them only.
cc Simeon, laying eyes on Jesus eight days after He was born said, “For my eyes have seen Thy salvation. Which Thou has prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Thy people Israel.” (Luke 2.30-31)
b “And on earth peace among men, with whom He is pleased.” (V.14).
aa Shalom means the opposite of strife, sword, worry.
bb It means good health, prosperity, security, wholeness and completeness. (More to do with character than circumstances)
cc Shalom is your inner man/woman being whole even when the world is falling apart.
c Roman Law, Greek Philosophy, Jewish Religion couldn’t meet human kinds deepest need. . . peace in our souls.
D So, where is the peace on earth? (Why all the fighting? Conflict? Terrorism? Selfishness? Where’s the Peace?)
1 The peace promised in v.14, is not given universally to everyone.
a You receive this peace (Shalom) when you receive God’s grace/favor.
b Beatitudes, Levitical Prayer.
c Peace comes to those who know whom they are in the presence of a Holy God!
2 There is no peace in this world yet because not everyone has found Jesus.
a Romans 14:11 (KJV) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
b The Good News was for everybody . . . but it’s only given through the child in the manger.
Conclusion:
A For the third year running, FORTUNE magazine has named Hilcorp one of top 100 businesses to work for.
1 Employ 1,380 employees & each employee was given a $100k Christmas bonus.
a A few years ago, they offered their employees one of two bonuses: $50K car or $35K cash.
b One of employees of Hilcorp said, “It’s just a true gift, and I think myself, along with everyone, is not going to give less than 100% each day.”
2 2,015 years ago, God presented Himself to all mankind as the best Christmas bonus ever.
a He came to live for us and die for us so that He could offer us the bonus of all bonuses—eternal life, offered equally to each one, regardless of our position, rank, social status.
b If the employees of Hilcorp can be motivated to give 100% back to the company, how much more ought we give of ourselves in service/gratitude to the One who gave it ALL for us?
aa “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9.15)
bb “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9.6)
B The reason the angels sang should make us sing/worship/serve.
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
